• Code: 8M
• Name: Myanmar Airways Intl.
• Tel: +95 1-255440
• Fax: +95 1-255 434
• E-Mail: resvn@maiair.com, bookings@maiair.com
• Foundation: 1993
• Country: Myanmar
• Web: www.maiair.com

History

Myanmar's original and only national airline was called Union of Burma Airways and began operations in the 1950s when the country was still known as Burma. In the early 1970s it was renamed Burma Airways Corporation and continued services under this name until 1988, when Burma was officially renamed Myanmar and the airline became Myanma Airways.

Myanmar Airways International (MAI) took off in August 1993, created by a joint venture between Myanmar Airways and Singapore interests with the support of Royal Brunei Airlines.

With a new Singapore management team (many ex-Singapore Airlines staff), new Boeing aircraft with all-expatriate cockpit crew, better-trained flight attendants and new UK Civil Aviation Authority operating standards, this was the beginning of a successful new era for the airline. Meanwhile, Myanma Airways (UB) continued operations as a purely domestic carrier for the local population.

MAI became the international airline of Myanmar with regular flights between Yangon (the commercial capital of Myanmar), Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kunming, Dacca and Jakarta. MAI continued to develop regionally.

MAI's potential continued to attract investors and in February 2007, a new joint venture was formed in which the Myanmar government retained 51% and Region Air (HK) Ltd., took a 49% stake.